Can perforating and resealing attachment



P J. w. STARR ET AL I 8 CAN PERFORATING AND RESEALING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 19:55

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT o Fics CAN PERFORATING AND RESEALING ATTACHMENT James W. Starr and Leonard W. Reis, Jersey City, N. J.

Application February 4, 1935, Serial No. 4,857

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to a perforating and resealing attachment for liquid containers and is particularly adapted for use in perforating cans containing condensed milk, fruit juices, beer and such liquids.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a can perforating and resealing attachment which may be readily applied to the can and when in place is rigidly maintained in a fixed position; which is easily operated to perforate the top of the can in one or more places near the periphery thereof, which places have been found to be most convenient for pouring the contents of the container, and when the container is in an upright non-dispensing position the perforations may be resealed to prevent the contamination of the contents.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device which is readily adjustable to fit different sizes and types of cans, which is convenient to operate, and which is compact in size in order to require a minimum of space when the can, with the attachment applied, is stored in a storage receptacle such as a refrigerator, and at the same time is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture permitting its sale at a very low price.

The manner in which we attain the objects of our invention and the novel construction thereof will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:-

Fig. 1 is a verticalcross sectional view of a container with our attachment applied.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the lever member and cutting members shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of our attachment applied to the top of a can.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawing.

Referring to the drawing the numeral l refers to a metallic container such as a Carnation brand condensed milk can, formed of sides 2 and a top closure 3. The top closure extends downwardly to embrace the sides 2 to form a rim 4.

The embodiment of our invention herein illustrated consists of a base plate 5 having one end bifurcated, the furcations being downwardly and inwardly curved to form gripping fingers 6 which are provided to engage with the rim 4. The other end of the base plate 5 is curved through substantially 360 the free end lying substantially parallel to the side of the can and ending under the base plate 4 approximately diametrically opposite the point of the rim engaged by the fingers 6, the curvature forming a slightly resilient handle ID.

A lever member 1 is pivotally mounted on the base plate 5 and extends laterally substantially to the periphery of the top of the can. Cutting members 8 are formed on the lever member I preferably at the opposite ends of the lever to perforate the top of the container at diametrically opposite points in close proximity to the periphery thereof. The lever member I is also provided with a longitudinal extension 9 forming a pressure plate H.

The attachment is applied to the top of the can by turning the lever member backwards toward the handle, placing the bifurcated ends under the rim 4 of the top closure member 3, extending the base plate across the top of the can and forcing the handle downward so that the free end thereof presses tightly against the side of the can and the rim 4 prevents any upward movement. The top of the can is perforated by turning the lever member over towards the bifurcated end of the base plate and applying pressure to the pres sure plate II which forces the cutting members 8 through the top of the can.

When the perforations are made the lever member may be turned back and the contents of the can dispensed by tilting. In a non-dispensing position the cutting members fit into the perforations effectively sealing them and preventing the contamination of the contents of the can.

We have found in the construction of our attachment that the manufacture can be effected at a cost lower than it has been possible to realize heretofore, in addition the novel construction of the handle provides a means for holding the can for dispensing purposes and at the same time, being slightly resilient, adapts the attachment for use on different sizes and types of cans. As a further feature the mounting of the lever member in the centre of the base plates distributes the pressure applied to the base plate equally to both ends thereof resulting in an attachment that is maintained rigidly in a fixed position during the operation thereof.

We claim:

1. A can perforating and rescaling attachment which comprises a base plate having at one end downwardly and inwardly turned resilient gripping fingers adapted to engage under the rim of a can and the other end of said plate being curved downwardly and then upwardly to form a handle terminating in a resilient free end under the base, said free end being adapted to engage under the rim of the can at a point diametrically opposite the part of the rim engaged by the fingers; a lever member centrally and pivotally mounted on said base plate and having downwardly extending cutting members forming a part thereof, so located as to perforate the top of the can at diametrically opposite points substantially at the periphery thereof.

2. A can perforating and rescaling attachment which comprises a base plate having at one end downwardly and inwardly turned gripping fingers adapted to engage under the rim of a can and.

the other end of said base plate being curved downwardly then upwardly through approximately 360 to form a handle terminating in a free end under the base plate, said free end being adapted to engage under the rim of the can at a point diametrically opposite the part of the rim engaged by the fingers, a lever member centrally and pivotally mounted on said base plate formed with cutting members located to perforate the top of the can at diametrically opposite points substantially at the periphery thereof.

JAMES W. STARR.

LEONARD W. REIS. 

